US Port Infrastructure outdated: ranks 32nd in the world as to infrastructural investments

Port Of Miami Container Terminal

There were lots of critical sounds coming out of the  Port and Intermodal Finance and Investment Summit meeting last week at the Hyatt Regency in Miami attended by some 50 port directors,  consultants, bankers, and representatives from maritime-related corporations.

“ The US ranks 32nd in the world in our infrastructure investments — just  behind Greece. It is an embarrassment.’’ said John Vickerman, president  of Vickerman and Associates, a Virginia-based firm that provides port  master planning and design.

The American Society of Civil  Engineers recently gave America’s infrastructure — its ports, airports,  transit and rail systems, bridges, and roads — a grade of D+. Ports  earned a C, or mediocre.

Meanwhile, Asia, Europe and the Middle East have been investing heavily in huge ports with the latest automated technology.

Vickerman  said the 10 bussiest ports in the world are all in Europe and Asia and when you put Shanghai and  Singapore together they are larger than all the ports in North America combined.

The three ports in the world as regards to the largest tonnage handled per year are: 1) Shanghai, 2) Singapore 3) Rotterdam.

Among the top 15 container ports eleven are in Asia, three in Europe and one in the Middle East.

EU-Digest